JPS6339925B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to an improvement in a method for recording figures such as characters and patterns by controlling a plotter using a processor. Conventionally, a graphic signal generator generates a code to specifically drive the recording head of a plotter based on data given from the outside, and a processor drives the recording head in accordance with this code. Even when recording a symmetrical figure, the figure signal generator must generate a code corresponding to the entire figure, which increases the amount of code in the figure signal generator and requires memory etc. to generate the figure signal. When used as a container, it had the disadvantage of having a large storage capacity. The present invention has the purpose of fundamentally solving such drawbacks of the conventional art, and when recording a symmetrical figure, a code corresponding to half of the symmetrical figure is given to record the half figure, and the symmetrical recording is also commanded. The present invention provides an extremely effective recording method using a plotter that can greatly simplify the configuration of a graphic signal generator by giving a code to record the other half. Hereinafter, details of the present invention will be explained with reference to figures showing examples. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the entire configuration, and data D specifying a figure given from an external main computer etc. via connector CN is sent to the microcomputer.
In response to the addressing signal AD from the MCP, it is stored in the buffer memory BM, and then given to the microcomputer MCP via the interface IF.
A graphic signal generator using the memory in the microcomputer MCP converts it into a code that specifically drives the recording head of the plotter, and then sends it to drive circuits DR ₁ and DR ₂ .
is applied to the step motor SM ₁ for driving the X axis in the recording head HD of the plotter, the step motor SM ₂ for driving the Y axis, and the magnet MG that moves the recording pen up and down. . In addition, an external strobe signal STB that instructs the microcomputer MCP to import data;
Response signal from the microcomputer MCP to the outside
ACK and operating signal indicating that the plotter is operating
Control signals CS such as BUSY are connected to the connector CN and the microcomputer via the interface IF.
It is supposed to be exchanged with MCP. In addition, a control switch group SW is attached to the microcomputer MCP, which allows manual pen movement control of the recording head HD, selection of pen colors, and easy pen replacement. It is possible to control the movement to a certain position. For this reason, the processor in the microcomputer MCP responds to the data specifying the figure given from the outside, lowers the pen of the recording head HD to enter the recording state, and then switches the step motors SM ₁ ,
By controlling SM ₂ , the plotter records figures according to external data. The following table shows various codes generated from the graphic signal generator, and "1" to "8" are the second
It is defined in correspondence with the direction of movement shown in the figure.

【table】

[Table] Therefore, if you use "D" to "8" in Table 1 to record half of the symmetrical figure, and then record the other half using "H" or "V", ,
Symmetrical figures can be recorded with a small number of codes. Figure 3 shows an example of the recording situation of symmetrical figures. When recording the final figure in Figure A, first record half of the symmetrical figure according to the alphabetical order as shown in Figure B. As shown by the broken line in C, if a code "H" or "V" instructing symmetrical recording is given to record the other half, the final figure in A of the figure is recorded. The code groups for recording each figure in FIG. 3 are shown in the following table, but for reference, code groups based on the conventional method are also listed.

[Table] In other words, if two codes are made into one byte, the number of bytes required by the present invention is reduced to approximately 1/2 compared to the number of bytes required conventionally, so the storage contents of the graphic signal generator can be greatly reduced. It is possible to use a memory with a small storage capacity. The same applies to symmetrical figures such as "0", "T", "U", and "V". Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the processor in the microcomputer MCP to realize the above operation.
READ” to import data from outside,
Use “DECOD” to find the address number X of the graphic signal generator, and use “READ” to find the address number
The code is read from the code, and whether or not the code "H" is included is determined by "H present?" If this is NO, "R present?" is determined.
After determining whether or not the code "R" has been read out, if it is NO, record the half of the symmetrical figure using "PLOT" and write "X=X+".
1", the read address is advanced one by one and this is repeated. Also, "H present? ” is YES, “X=X
-1", the address with the number obtained by subtracting 1 from the address number Determine whether or not it has been read by “D present?” If this is NO, convert the read code by “CHANGE” so that it applies to a part other than the half of the symmetrical figure, and then “PLOT” Recording is performed for the other half, and this process is repeated. In addition, for shapes other than symmetrical shapes, "Is there an H?"
Staying NO, “READ” follows “DECOD”
Recording is performed by repeating the route from "X=X+1". Also, when using the code "V",
The same result can be obtained by replacing "Is there H?" with "Is there V?". Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3C, half of the symmetrical figure is first recorded, and the other half is recorded symmetrically, resulting in the figure shown in FIG. 3A. However, the configuration shown in Figure 1 can be selected arbitrarily depending on the conditions, and can be applied not only to characters but also to symbols and various patterns as long as they are symmetrical. The present invention is open to various modifications. As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, symmetrical figures can be freely recorded with a small number of codes, so the ease of memorization of the figure signal generator is reduced, and the apparatus can be constructed easily and inexpensively. A remarkable effect can be obtained in recording the figures used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Figure 1 is a block diagram of the entire configuration, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the direction of movement of the pen,
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a recording situation of a symmetrical figure, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control situation by the processor. CN...Connector, BM...Buffer memory, I...
Interface, MCP...Microcomputer,
DR ₁ , DR ₂ ...drive circuit, HD...recording head, SM ₁ ,
SM ₂ ...Step motor, MG...Magnet.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 In a method of recording figures by controlling a plotter with a processor, when recording a symmetrical figure,
A code corresponding to a half of the symmetric figure is given to record the half figure, and a code for instructing symmetric recording is given to record a part other than the half of the symmetric figure symmetrically with the half figure. A recording method using Protsuta, which is characterized by: